System for developing, managing, acquiring and playing electronic board games

ABSTRACT

A device, method, and system for developing, managing, acquiring and playing electronic board games. Game developers may illustratively access one or more electronic game board, game piece templates and/or other game development application software from a game server to design and develop electronic board games. Such electronic board games may then be acquired by game players in the form of full, limited and/or modifiable versions. A game service module of the game server makes a number of electronic board game related services available to game players for managing, playing and acquiring electronic board game collections and/or for enhancing or facilitating electronic board game playing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 14/546,380, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,511,277 and entitled “System forDeveloping, Managing, Acquiring and Playing Electronic Board Games,”which was filed on Nov. 18, 2014 and which is a divisional applicationof U.S. application Ser. No. 13/631,265, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,174,116 andentitled “System for Developing, Managing, Acquiring and PlayingElectronic Board Games,” which was filed on Sep. 28, 2012.

BACKGROUND

Many different types, styles, and versions of conventional board gamesare commercially available, and have been played by persons of all agesand backgrounds for several generations. Typically, such board gamesinclude a physical game board with a static graphical representation ofa game playing surface on one side, and a plurality of physical gamepieces such as dice, cards, game currency, and/or other paper, plasticand/or metal pieces.

Personal computing devices are ubiquitous in modern society, with manypersons owning and/or operating multiple personal computing devicesdaily. Many personal computing devices are internet-accessible, and somesuch personal computing devices have large display screens and/or may beoriented and supported with their display screens facing upwardly. Thepersonal computing devices may be used for any one or more usesincluding business, personal data management, and entertainment such aselectronic games.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The concepts described herein are illustrated by way of example and notby way of limitation in the accompanying figures. For simplicity andclarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures are notnecessarily drawn to scale. Where considered appropriate, referencelabels have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding oranalogous elements.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of at least one embodiment of asystem for developing, managing, acquiring and playing electronic boardgames;

FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram of at least one embodiment of aphysically flexible version of the user computing device illustrated inthe system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram of the user computing device of FIG. 1shown with a hardware game piece positioned upon and in contact with adisplay screen of the user computing device;

FIG. 4 is a simplified diagram of at least one embodiment of acollection of unique hardware game pieces which may be used todistinguish game players from one another;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the collection of unique hardware gamepieces illustrated in FIG. 4 showing uniquely shaped footprints of eachgame piece in the collection of unique hardware game pieces;

FIG. 6 is a simplified view of at least one embodiment of the one ormore electronic devices illustrated in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of at least one embodiment of anenvironment of the game server illustrated in the system of FICI 1;

FIG. 8 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of aprocess for identifying and tracking of the positions of playersrelative to the playing surface of an electronic game board displayed ona display screen of a user computing device, which process may beexecuted by one or more of the user computing devices of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of aprocess for setting game modification rules by a game developer, whichmay be executed by the game server of FIG. 1 and/or by a computingdevice controlled by the game developer;

FIG. 10 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of aprocess for selecting one or more electronic game components to use inplace of one or more corresponding hardware game components when playinggames, which may be executed by one or more of the user computingdevices of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of aprocess for selecting a mechanism for hiding certain game-relatedinformation from other players during game play, which may be executedby one or more of the user computing devices of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of aprocess for recommending a game to a user from the user's collection ofgames and/or from a catalogue of new games, which may be executed by oneor more of the user computing devices and/or the game server of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 13 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of aprocess for setting one or more access limits to one or more electronicboard games in the user's collection of electronic board games, whichmay be executed by one or more of the user computing devices and/or thegame server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of aprocess for acquiring a game via the game server, which may be executedby one or more of the user computing devices and/or the game server ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 15 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of aprocess for uploading a version of a game that has been modified by auser for use by others, which may be executed by one or more of the usercomputing devices and/or the game server of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof havebeen shown by way of example in the drawings and will be describedherein in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is nointent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particularforms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives consistent with the presentdisclosure and the appended claims.

References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,”“an illustrative embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodimentdescribed may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but every embodiment may or may not necessarily includethat particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, suchphrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further,when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within theknowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure,or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or notexplicitly described.

The disclosed embodiments may be implemented, in some cases, inhardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof. The disclosedembodiments may also be implemented as instructions carried by or storedon a transitory or non-transitory machine-readable (e.g.,computer-readable) storage medium, which may be read and executed by oneor more processors. A machine-readable storage medium may be embodied asany storage device, mechanism, or other physical structure for storingor transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., avolatile or non-volatile memory, a media disc, or other media device).

In the drawings, some structural or method features may be shown inspecific arrangements and/or orderings. However, it should beappreciated that such specific arrangements and/or orderings may not berequired. Rather, in some embodiments, such features may be arranged ina different manner and/or order than shown in the illustrative figures.Additionally, the inclusion of a structural or method feature in aparticular figure is not meant to imply that such feature is required inall embodiments and, in some embodiments, may not be included or may becombined with other features.

Referring now generally to FIGS. 1 and 7, an embodiment of a system 100is shown for developing, managing, acquiring and playing electronicboard games. In the illustrated embodiment, the system 100 includes agame server 102 configured to provide a framework for developing,managing, acquiring and providing services for electronic board gamesover a network 108, which electronic board games may be acquired andplayed by one or more users via one or more corresponding user computingdevices, e.g., 104 and 106. As discussed in more detail below, the gameserver 102 illustratively includes a game development module 302configured to provide access to a number of game-related templates andother software for use by one or more game developers to developmodified and/or unmodified, electronic versions of one or more existing,conventional board games, and/or to develop new electronic board games.

The game server 102 further illustratively includes a game acquisitionmodule 306 configured to allow one or more users to acquire variousversions of one or more electronic board games, such as limitedversions, full or complete versions and modifiable versions, and toallow users to upload modified versions of games and thereby make suchmodified versions available to others. The game server 102 furtherillustratively includes a game services module 304 configured to providevarious game-related services to users. Users may acquire one or morestandardized and/or custom hardware game pieces 114 and/or sets ofhardware game pieces for use during game play. Alternatively oradditionally, users and/or one or more other game players may acquireone or more “virtual” game pieces, e.g., software applications, usingany of a number of electronic devices, e.g., 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112_(K), and may use any such virtual game pieces in addition to, or inplace of, corresponding hardware game pieces during game play.Additionally, in games that require certain information to be keptprivate from other game players, users and other game players may eachutilize one of the number of electronic devices, e.g., 110 ₁-110 _(J),112 ₁-112 _(K), to acquire and use one or more general purpose ordedicated software application(s) configured to display and manage gameinformation that is private only to that player.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the user computing device 104,of the system 100 may be embodied as any type of computing devicecapable of performing the functions described herein. For example, eachof the user computing device 104 may be embodied as, without limitation,a computer, a desktop computer, a personal computer (PC), a tabletcomputer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a mobile computingdevice, a smart phone, a cellular telephone, a handset, a messagingdevice, a work station, a network appliance, a web appliance, adistributed computing system, a multiprocessor system, a processor-basedsystem, a consumer electronic device, a digital television device, a settop box, and/or any other computing device configured to store andaccess data, and to execute electronic game software and relatedapplications. Additionally, although the system 100 is illustrated inFIG. 1 as including two user computing devices 104, 106, it should beappreciated that the system 100 may include any number of user computingdevices.

In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1, the user computing device 104includes a processor 120, an I/O subsystem 122, a memory 124, a datastorage 126, a communication circuitry 128, and one or more peripheraldevices 130. Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more of theillustrative components may be incorporated in, or otherwise from aportion of, another component. For example, the memory 124, or portionsthereof, may be incorporated in the processor 120 in some embodiments.Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the user computing device 104may include other components, sub-components, and devices commonly foundin a computer and/or computing device, which are not illustrated in FIG.1 for clarity of the description.

The processor 120 of the user computing device 104 may be embodied asany type of processor currently known or developed in the future andcapable of performing the functions described herein. For example, theprocessor 120 may be embodied as a single or multi-core processor(s),digital signal processor, microcontroller, or other processor orprocessing/controlling circuit. Similarly, the memory 124 may beembodied as any type of volatile or non-volatile memory or data storagecurrently known or developed in the future and capable of performing thefunctions described herein. In operation, the memory 124 may storevarious data and software used during operation of the user computingdevice 104 such as operating systems, applications, programs, libraries,and drivers. The memory 124 is communicatively coupled to the processor120 via the I/O subsystem 122, which may be embodied as circuitry and/orcomponents to facilitate input/output operations with the processor 120,the memory 124, and other components of the user computing device 104.For example, the I/O subsystem 122 may be embodied as, or otherwiseinclude, memory controller hubs, input/output control hubs, firmwaredevices, communication links (i.e., point-to-point links, bus links,wires, cables, light guides, printed circuit board traces, etc.) and/orother components and subsystems to facilitate the input/outputoperations. In some embodiments, the I/O subsystem 122 may form aportion of a system-on-a-chip (SoC) and be incorporated, along with theprocessor 120, the memory 124, and other components of the usercomputing device 104, on a single integrated circuit chip.

The communication circuitry 128 of the user computing device 104 may beembodied as any communication circuit, device, or collection thereof,capable of enabling communications between the user computing device 104and the game server 102 and/or other remote devices and, in embodimentsin which one or more of the electronic devices 110 ₁-110 _(J) are used,between the user computing device 104 and the one or more electronicdevices 110 ₁-110 ₁. Communication between the user computing device 104and the game server 102 and/or between the user computing device 104 andthe one or more electronic devices 110 ₁-110 _(J) may take placewirelessly via the network 108, wherein the network 108 may represent,for example, a local area network (LAN), personal area network (PAN),storage area network (SAN), backbone network, global area network (GAN),wide area network (WAN), or collection of any such computer networkssuch as an intranet, extranet or the Internet (i.e., a global system ofinterconnected network upon which various applications or service runincluding, for example, the World Wide Web). In alternative embodiments,the communication path between the user computing device 104 and thegame server 102 and/or between the user computing device 104 and the oneor more electronic devices 110 ₁-110 _(J) may be, in whole or in part, awired connection. Generally, the communication circuitry 128 may beconfigured to use any one or more, or combination, of communicationprotocols to communicate with the game server 102 such as, for example,a wired network communication protocol (e.g., TCP/IP), a wirelessnetwork communication protocol (e.g., Ethernet, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®,WiMAX), a cellular communication protocol (e.g., Wideband Code DivisionMultiple Access (W-CDMA)), and/or other communication protocols.

The one or more peripheral devices 130 may include any number ofinput/output devices, interface devices, and/or other peripheraldevices. For example, the peripheral devices 130 will typically includea display 132 and graphics circuitry and, in some embodiments, mayfurther include a keyboard, a mouse, audio processing circuitry(including, e.g., conventional amplification circuitry and one or morespeakers), and/or other input/output devices, interface devices, and/orperipheral devices. The display 132 of the user computing device 104 maygenerally be or include any device or surface currently known ordeveloped in the future and capable of rendering an image based onelectronic input. The display 132 may be embodied as, or otherwise use,for example, any suitable display technology including, for example, aliquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, acathode ray tube (CRT) display, a plasma display, and/or other displaytechnology currently known or developed in the future. Although only asingle display 132 is illustrated in FIG. 1, it should be appreciatedthat the user computing device 104 may include multiple displays ordisplay screens on which the same or different content may be displayedcontemporaneously or sequentially with each other. The one or moreperipheral devices 130 may further include one or more a cameras 134which may be positioned and configured to capture images and/or video ofgame pieces 114 positioned on the surface of the display 132 forpurposes of associating the various game pieces 114 with correspondingplayers, and for identifying and tracking such game pieces during gameplay. The one or more cameras 134 may be positioned, for example, tocapture images and/or video of game pieces 114 from above and/or besidethe display surface of the display 132, or may alternatively oradditionally be positioned below the display 132, e.g., within the usercomputing device 104, to capture images and/or video of the base orfootprints of the game pieces 114 from below the display surface of thedisplay 132. The one or more peripheral devices 130 may further includeone or more conventional near-field communication (NFC) devicespositioned and configured to communication with corresponding NFCdevices attached to or carried by the various game pieces 114 for thepurpose of associating the various game pieces 114 with correspondingplayers, and for identifying and tracking such game pieces during gameplay.

The data storage 126 may be embodied as any type of device or devicesconfigured for short-term or long-term storage of data such as, forexample, memory devices and circuits, memory cards, hard disk drives,solid-state drives, or other data storage devices. In the illustrativeembodiment, the user computing device 104 may maintain one or moreelectronic games, one or more electronic game and/or game piecetemplates, one or more virtual game piece applications, one or moreprivate game component applications and/or other information in the datastorage 126.

With some electronic board games, it may be desirable to utilize one ormore hardware game pieces or sets of hardware game pieces during gameplay, e.g., for the purpose of providing some amount of physicalcontrol, for providing tactile feedback, and/or for promoting ordeveloping physical dexterity. Some such hardware game pieces may bestandardized, i.e., usable with several different types of electronicboard games, while others may be custom pieces specific to one or afamily of games. Examples of such hardware game pieces may include, butshould not be limited to, two or more unique game pieces for identifyingtwo or more corresponding game players, a die or dice, cards, gamecurrency, and other paper items, walls, bridges, buildings such ashouses, hotels and the like, human and/or other characters, weapons,sports-related items, and/or other plastic, metal or other rigid,semi-rigid or flexible game pieces. The one or more standardized and/orcustom hardware game pieces and/or sets of hardware game pieces 114shown with the user computing device 104 may include any number ofhardware game pieces and/or sets of hardware game pieces 116 ₁-116 _(J),where M may be any positive integer. Likewise, the one or moreelectronic devices shown with the user computing device 104 may includeany number of such electronic devices 110 ₁-110 _(J), where J may be anypositive integer. In some embodiments, for example, only one electronicdevice 110 ₁ may be used by a single player or passed around and used bymultiple players, and in other embodiments each of a plurality ofplayers will use a different one of the electronic devices 110 ₁-110_(J).

The user computing device 106 may be substantially similar to the usercomputing device 104 and include similar components, which have beenidentified in FIG. 1 with common reference numbers. As such, thedescription provided above of the components of the user computingdevice 104 may be equally applicable to those similar components of theuser computing device 106 and are not repeated herein so as not toobscure the present disclosure. Of course, it should be appreciated thatin some embodiments the user computing devices 104, 106 (or other usercomputing devices of the system 100) may be dissimilar to each other.For example, the user computing devices of system 100 may be embodied asvarious types of computing devices different from each other (e.g., adesktop computer, a mobile computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone,or other computing device) and include components typically found insuch corresponding computing devices. As another example, the one ormore standardized and/or custom hardware game pieces and/or sets ofhardware game pieces 114 shown with the user computing device 106 mayinclude any number of hardware game pieces and/or sets of hardware gamepieces 118 ₁-118 _(N), where N may be any positive integer and where Nmay or may not be equal to M. Likewise, the one or more electronicdevices shown with the user computing device 106 may include any numberof such electronic devices 112 ₁-112 _(K), where K may be any positiveinteger and where K may or may not be equal to J.

As discussed briefly above, the game server 102 is configured to makeavailable to game developers a number of board game templates and otherrelated software, and to make available to users (game players) a numberof electronic board games and various game services, via the network108. Although only one such game server 102 is shown in FIG. 1, itshould be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the system 100 mayinclude any number of game servers.

The game server 102 may be embodied as any type of server (e.g., a webserver) or similar computing device capable of performing the functionsdescribed herein. In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1, the gameserver 102 includes a processor 140, an I/O subsystem 142, a memory 144,a data storage 146, a communication circuitry 148, and one or moreperipheral devices 150. Such components of the game server 102 may besimilar to the corresponding components of the user computing device104, the description of which is applicable to the correspondingcomponents of the game server 102 and is not repeated herein for clarityof the description.

In the user computer device 104, 106, the processor 120 isillustratively operable during execution of an electronic board game torender an image of the playing surface of the game board on its display132 such that the electronic board game may be played on and/or on thesurface of the display 132. In order to simulate conventional board gameplay, it is desirable in some embodiments to implement the usercomputing device 104, 106 in the form of a computing device in which thedisplay 132 (e.g., monitor, display screen or other surface upon whichan image of the playing surface of the game may be rendered) is or maybe oriented upwardly in the same manner as a conventional board gamesupported on a table top or similar structure/surface. In suchembodiments, the user computing device 104, 106 may, for example, beprovided in the form of a conventional tablet computer which has a largedisplay area on one face or surface that may be oriented upwardly bysupporting the opposite face or surface on a table top or similarstructure/surface. As another example of this embodiment, the usercomputing device 104, 106 may be provided in the form of a conventionalflexible or semi-flexible computing device 160 as shown in FIG. 2 in itsrolled-up (e.g., storage) state and as shown in FIG. 3 in its un-rolledstate. Other such forms of the user computing device 104, 106 will occurto those skilled in the art, and any such other forms are contemplatedby this disclosure. It should be understood, however, that such forms ofthe user computing device 104, 106 should not be considered to belimiting in any way, and that this disclosure contemplates otherembodiments in which the display screen of the user computing device104, 106 is not or may not be oriented upwardly as just described.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the flexible or semi-flexible computingdevice 160 has a top surface 161 and a bottom surface or underside 163opposite the top surface 161. The top surface 161 illustratively definesa border 162 which surrounds a display 164, e.g., a display screen ormonitor, although the border 162 may be omitted in some embodiments. Inany case, the flexible or semi-flexible computing device 160 is shown inFIG. 3 supported on its underside 163 by the top surface 167 of a tableor other suitable structure 165 such that the display screen 164 isoriented upwardly as a playing surface of a conventional board gamewould be when supported by the top surface 167 of the table or othersuitable structure 165. While FIG. 3 illustrates one implementation ofthe user computing device 104, 106 as a flexible or semi-flexiblecomputing device, it will be understood that in embodiments in which itis desirable to implement the user computing device 104, 106 in the formof a computing device with a display screen (i.e., monitor) that is ormay be oriented upwardly in the same manner as a conventional board gamesupported on a table top or similar structure/surface, the usercomputing device 104, 106 may be any known computing device capable ofsuch orientation. Examples of such computing devices include, but shouldnot be limited to, a tablet computer or any computer having a flatscreen which may be oriented as shown in FIG. 3. In any such embodiment,the display screen 164 may illustratively be or include a conventionaltouch-screen 166, i.e., an electronic visual display configured to senseor detect the presence, location and shape of an object touching withinthe touch sensitive area 166 of the display screen 164.

Some conventional board games include a plurality of unique hardwaregame pieces which are used to identify two or more game players duringgame play. Well-known examples of such pieces include, but are notlimited to, a shoe, a racecar, an iron, a thimble and a top hat.Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, a set 168 of three such unique hardware gamepieces 170, 172, 174 is shown with one of the unique hardware gamepieces 172 placed in contact with, and supported by, the display screen164 of the user computing device 160 (see FIG. 3). In the illustratedembodiment, the hardware game piece 170 includes a unique base 176 towhich it is mounted, and the hardware game pieces 172 and 174 arelikewise mounted to unique bases 178 and 180 respectively. As shown byexample in FIG. 5, the bases 176, 178, 180 of the game pieces 170, 172and 174 respectively are unique in the shapes of their respectivefootprints. The base 176 of the game piece 170 is formed, for example,in the shape of a triangle, whereas the bases 178 and 180 of the gamepieces 172 and 174 are formed in the shape of a circle and a squarerespectively. It will be understood that while the shape of thefootprint of the base 176, 178, 180 of any of the game pieces 170, 172,174 may be arbitrary, each is sufficiently unique relative to the othersto allow the processor 120 of the user computing device 104, 106 todistinguish between the shapes of the various footprints usingconventional touch-screen technology.

Thus, with the base 176 of the hardware game piece 172 positioned incontact with the display screen 164 as illustrated in FIG. 3, theprocessor 120 may determine not only the position of the hardware gamepiece 172 relative to the surface area of the display screen 164, butmay also distinguish the unique shape or footprint of the base 176 ofthe hardware game piece 172 relative to the unique shapes or footprintsof the other hardware game pieces 170 and 174. By so tracking thefootprints of the various plurality of unique hardware game pieces, theprocessor 120 may thus be programmed or configured to automaticallytrack and keep track of the positions of the various players relative tothe playing surface of the game board projected or displayed on thedisplay screen of the user computing device 104, 106 during game play.One illustrative process which is made available by the game server 102to electronic board game developers for tracking and keeping track ofthe positions of players relative to the playing surface of theelectronic game board displayed on the display screen of the usercomputing device 104, 106 to thereby distinguish one player from anotherduring play of an electronic board game, which process may be executedby one or more of the user computing devices of FIG. 1, will bedescribed in detail below with reference to FIG. 8.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, the bases 176, 178, 180 and/orother portion(s) of the hardware game pieces 170, 172, 174 may haveattached thereto, or embedded therein, one or more sensors 182, 184, 186respectively. Examples of such sensors may include, but should not belimited to, proximity sensors, light sensors, noise or sound sensors,tactile sensors, or the like. Alternatively or additionally, the bases176, 178, 180 and/or other portion(s) of the hardware game pieces 170,172, 174 may have attached thereto, or embedded therein, one or moreactuators 188, 190, 192 respectively. Examples of such actuators mayinclude, but should not be limited to, light sources, sound generatorsor reproducing devices, body part (e.g., arm, leg or other) movementactuators, vibratory devices, or the like. In embodiments of thehardware game pieces which include one or more sensors and/or one ormore actuators, the bases 176, 178, 180 and/or other portion(s) of thehardware game pieces 170, 172, 174 may have attached thereto, orembedded therein, suitable communication devices 194, 196, 198respectively for communicating sensor data to the processor 120, forcommunicating actuator control data to the actuators, and/or forcommunicating with one or more similar communication devices carried bythe user computing device 160. Such communication devices 194, 196, 198may be or include any known wired or wireless communication circuitryand interface, or combination thereof, and may utilize any knowncommunication protocol to carry out communications between the variouscomponents.

In some embodiments, the communication devices 194, 196, 198 may beincluded, regardless of whether the hardware game pieces include one ormore sensors and/or actuators, for the purpose of providing a uniqueidentifier to the processor 120. In such embodiments, the footprints ofthe bases 176, 178, 180 thus need not be physically unique or evendifferent in any way from each other, as the positions of the differenthardware game pieces 170, 172, 174 relative to the playing surface ofthe game board displayed on the display screen of the user computingdevice 104, 106 during game play may be determined by the processor 120via the unique identifier produced by the communication device 194, 196,198 in each hardware game piece. In some such embodiments, thecommunication devices 194, 196, 198 may be provided in the form of oneor more conventional near-field communication (NFC) devices, radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags or other suitable wireless datatransfer system. In embodiments in which the communication devices 194,196, 198 are provided in the form of one or more NFC devices, the NFCdevices 194, 196, 198 may be programmed with a unique identifier, andone or more NFC devices carried by the user computing device 160 maycommunicate with the NFC devices 194, 196, 198 in order to determine theidentities and/or positions of the hardware game pieces 170, 172, 174.In embodiments in which the communication devices 194, 196, 198 areprovided in the form of RFID tags, the RFID tags 194, 196, 198 may eachbe programmed with a unique identifier signal, and the RFID tags 194,196, 198 are then operable to transmit for processing by the processor120 a radio frequency signal unique to that hardware game piece. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize other forms of the communicationdevices 194, 196, 198 that may be provided for the purpose of providinga unique identifier to the processor 120, and any such other forms arecontemplated by this disclosure. In still other embodiments, thehardware game pieces 170, 172, 174 may be associated with the variousplayers and may be distinguished during game play by capturing imagesand/or video of the game pieces 170, 172, 174 via the one or morecameras 134, and then processing such images and/or video in aconventional manner to the determine the identities and/or positions ofthe hardware game pieces 170, 172, 174 according to different visualattributes associated with the game pieces 170, 172, 174, e.g., shape,color, luminosity, footprint, and/or other visual attribute(s).

As discussed briefly above, a number of electronic devices 110 ₁-110_(J) may be used by one or more players in connection with playingelectronic board games with the user computing device 104, and anynumber of electronic devices 112 ₁-112 _(K) may likewise be used by oneor more players in connection with playing electronic board games withthe user computing device 106, where J and K may each be any positiveinteger and where J may or may not be equal to K. Any such electronicdevice 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K) may be used in connection with theuser computing device 104, 106 for any of a number of purposes, examplesof which include, but should not be limited to, downloading one or morevirtual game pieces for use during play of one or more electronic boardgames, and/or as a mechanism for hiding certain game-related informationfrom other players during game play. Referring now to FIG. 6, oneillustrative embodiment of an electronic device 200 is shown which maybe used for any of the electronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K)illustrated in FIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronicdevice 200 includes a processor 210, an I/O subsystem 212, a memory 214,a data storage 216, a communication circuitry 218, and one or moreperipheral devices 220. Such components of the electronic device 200 maybe similar to the corresponding components of the user computing device104, the description of which is applicable to the correspondingcomponents of electronic device 200 and is not repeated herein forclarity of the description.

The communication circuitry 218 of the electronic device 200 may includeany number of devices and circuitry for enabling communications betweenthe electronic device 200 and one or more web servers 202 and/or betweenthe electronic device 200 and the game server 102 over a network 204.The network 204 may be or be identical to the network 108 illustratedand described with respect to FIG. 1, or may be or include one or anycombination of other conventional networks. The communication circuitry218 may be configured to use any one or more communication protocols toeffect such communication as discussed above with regard to thecommunication circuitry 128 of the user computing device 104.

In embodiments in which the electronic device 200 is used to downloadone or more virtual game pieces for use during play of one or moreelectronic board games, the electronic device 200 may be configured toconnect in a conventional manner to one or more suitable web servers 202hosting corresponding web sites via which such one or more virtual gamepieces may be acquired. Alternatively or additionally, the game server102 may include a library of virtual game pieces, and the electronicdevice 200 may download any such one or more virtual game pieces via thegame server 102. A player may elect to use the virtual game piece inplace of a hardware game piece during play of one or more games, and oneillustrative process which is made available by the game server 102 togame players for replacing one or more hardware game pieces in anyparticular electronic board game with corresponding virtual game pieceswill be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 10.

In embodiments in which the electronic device 200 is used to downloadsoftware for use as a mechanism for hiding certain game-relatedinformation that is private to each game player from other playersduring game play, the electronic device 200 may be configured to connectin a conventional manner to the game server 102, and to download anysuch software via the game server 102. One illustrative process which ismade available by the game server 102 to game players for downloadingsuch software for hiding certain game-related information that isprivate to each game player from other players during game play will bedescribed in detail below with reference to FIG. 11. When downloaded andinstalled on the electronic device 200, game-related information that isprivate to each player and that should therefore be kept from exposureor dissemination to other players may be displayed and in some games maybe managed or otherwise manipulated via the electronic device 200.

The electronic device 200 may be embodied as any type of computingdevice capable of performing the functions described herein. Forexample, each of the electronic device 200 may be embodied as, withoutlimitation, a computer, a desktop computer, a personal computer (PC), atablet computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a mobilecomputing device, a smart phone, a cellular telephone, a handset, amessaging device, a work station, a network appliance, a web appliance,a distributed computing system, a multiprocessor system, aprocessor-based system, a consumer electronic device, a digitaltelevision device, a set top box, a Classmate PC® or other computerdeveloped specifically for use by children, a dedicated, child-friendlythin-client, and/or any other computing device configured to store andaccess data, and to execute electronic game software and relatedapplications.

Referring now to FIG. 7, in one embodiment, the game server 102establishes an environment 300 during operation. The illustrativeenvironment 300 includes a game development module 302, a game servicesmodule 304 and a game acquisition module 306. Each of the modules 302,304, 306 may be embodied as any type of software or firmware applicationconfigured to communicate with any of the user computing devices 104,106 and/or the electronic devices 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K) duringexecution. For example, in cloud computing implementations, the modules302, 304, 306 may be embodied as browser-based applications and/or“thin” client-side applications configured to communicate withcorresponding server-side applications executed on a remote server.Alternatively, in other embodiments, the modules 302, 304, 306 may beembodied as stand-alone, full featured applications configured tocommunicate with any of the user computing devices 104, 106 and/or theelectronic devices 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K).

The game development module 302 is illustratively provided for, and maybe configured to be accessed by, game developers desiring to developelectronic versions of existing board games and/or to develop entirelynew electronic board games. In the illustrated embodiment, the gamedevelopment module 302 includes a number of configuration templates foruse as a starting point for developing various features common to manyconventional board games. For example, the game development module 302illustrated in FIG. 7 includes board templates 308, card templates 310,dice templates 312, game currency templates 314, paper piece templates316 and plastic/metal piece templates 318. The board templates 308illustratively contains one or more templates of various game boarddesigns which may be downloaded and used by game developers to designgame boards for electronic board games. One or more of the game boarddesigns may resemble one or more existing game boards, others may becommon to multiple existing board games and still others may be genericdesigns. The card templates 310 illustratively contain one or moretemplates of various designs of playing cards, information cards orother cards typically used by board games. One or more of the carddesigns may resemble cards of one or more existing board games, othersmay be common to multiple existing board games and still others may begeneric designs. The dice templates 312 illustratively contain one ormore templates of various die and/or dice designs. One or more of thedie or dice designs may resemble die or dice of one or more existingboard games, others may be common to multiple existing board games andstill others may be generic designs. The game currency templates 314illustratively contain one or more templates of various designs and/ordenominations of game currency. One or more of the game currency designsmay resemble currency of one or more existing board games, others may becommon to multiple existing board games and still others may be genericdesigns. The paper piece templates 316 illustratively contain one ormore templates of various designs of paper game pieces other than cards.One or more of the paper game piece designs may resemble paper gamepiece designs of one or more existing board games, others may be commonto multiple existing board games and still others may be genericdesigns. The plastic/metal piece templates 318 illustratively containone or more templates of various designs of plastic and/or metal gamepieces. One or more of the game plastic and/or metal game piece designsmay resemble game pieces of one or more existing board games, others maybe common to multiple existing board games and still others may begeneric designs. It will be appreciated that the final designs of any ofthe game cards, game die or dice, game currency, paper game piecesand/or plastic and/or metal game pieces developed by game developers maybe manufactured as hardware game pieces included with the electronicboard games and/or made available to game players separately from theelectronic board games. Alternatively or additionally, the final designsof any of the game cards, game die or dice, game currency, paper gamepieces and/or plastic and/or metal game pieces developed by gamedevelopers may be provided with the electronic games as virtual gamepieces and/or be downloadable separately from the electronic board gamesvia one or more web-accessible sources, e.g., the game pieceapplications library 326 of the game server 102 and/or one or more websites offering such virtual game pieces for download.

The game development module 302 illustrated in FIG. 7 further includes ahardware game piece identification (ID) sub-module 320 for use by gamedevelopers for the purpose of configuring electronic board games torecognize and associate unique hardware game pieces with game players.One illustrative process made available by the game server 102 to gamedevelopers for so configuring electronic board games will be describedin detail below with reference to FIG. 8. The game development module302 further illustratively includes a game modification rules sub-module322 for use by game developers to establish rules for modifying theirelectronic board games. It is anticipated that electronic boarddevelopers may wish to control the extent to which the electronic boardgames they design may be edited or modified from their original design,and the game modification rules sub-module 322 provides a tool forestablishing game modification rules for any electronic board game. Oneillustrative process made available by the game server 102 to gamedevelopers for establishing such game modification rules will bedescribed in detail below with reference to FIG. 9.

The game services module 304 shown in FIG. 7 is illustratively providedfor, and may be configured to be accessed by, owners and users (i.e.players) of electronic board games for the purpose of managingelectronic board game collections, accessing downloadable virtual gamepieces and/or game-related software applications, and enhancing orfacilitating game playing opportunities and experiences. In theillustrated embodiment, the game services module 304 includes adownloadable game management program 324, a game piece applicationslibrary 326, a private game component sub-module 328, a remote player(s)game service 330, a game recommendation service 332 and a game policyservice 334. The downloadable game management program 324 illustrativelycontains an electronic game management software program that may bedownloaded from the game server 102 and installed on a user computingdevice 104, 106 and/or electronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K).Upon installation, the game management program allows users to download,save, organize and configure and play electronic board games.Illustratively, the game management program may include a sub-modulethat allows users to connect directly to the game acquisition module 306to browse, search for and acquire electronic board games from the gameserver 102.

The game piece applications library 326 illustratively includes a numberof downloadable software program applications for virtual game pieces.The game management program may further include a sub-module that allowsusers to connect directly to the game piece applications library 326 sothat users may browse, search for and download virtual game pieces fromthe game server 102. In any case, the game piece applications library326 may be accessed by a user computing device 104 and/or an electronicdevice 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K), and one or more virtual gamepieces may be downloaded thereto from the game piece applicationslibrary 326. Upon installation, such one or more virtual game pieces maybe activated and used during play of electronic board games. Oneillustrative process which is made available by the game server 102 togame players for replacing one or more hardware game pieces in anyparticular electronic board game with one or more corresponding virtualgame pieces will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 10.

The private game component sub-module 328 illustratively includes anumber of downloadable software program applications, with one or moresuch software program applications associated with one or moreelectronic board games for the purpose of maintaining some game-relatedinformation that is private to each player from exposure ordissemination to other players during game play. The game managementprogram and/or the game acquisition module 306 may further include asub-module which directs users acquiring electronic board games thatrequire some game-related information that is private to each player tobe kept from exposure or dissemination to other players during game playto the private game component sub-module 328 so that users may downloadfrom the game server 102 and install on one or more of the electronicdevices 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K) one or more private informationsoftware applications appropriate for the electronic board game beingacquired. In some embodiments and/or with some electronic board games, asingle, private information software application will be downloaded andinstalled on a single electronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K),and the single electronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K) will bepassed around to the various players of the electronic board game duringgame play. In such embodiments, the single, private information softwareapplication will be configured to display the game-related informationthat is private to each player, and to provide for access, managementand/or manipulation of such information by each such player, via single,electronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K), and to also allow thevarious game players to hide or mask their private information beforepassing the single electronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K) tothe next player. In other embodiments and/or with other electronicgames, each player will have a different electronic device 110 ₁-110_(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K), and in such embodiments a private informationsoftware application may be downloaded and installed on each suchdifferent electronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K). Duringsubsequent play of the associated electronic board game, thegame-related information that is private to each player will bedisplayed and may be accessed, managed and/or manipulated by each suchplayer only via that player's electronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112₁-112 _(K). In any case, the private game component sub-module 328 maybe accessed by a user computing device 104 and/or an electronic device110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K), and one or more of the privateinformation software applications appropriate for the electronic boardgame being acquired may be downloaded thereto from the private gamecomponent sub-module 328. Upon installation on one or more of theelectronic devices 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K), such one or moreprivate information software applications may be activated and usedduring play of electronic board games.

With some electronic board games, one or more hardware game pieces maybe available via which game-related information that is private to thevarious players may be kept from exposure or dissemination to otherplayers during game play. With such electronic board games, players maybe offered a choice between such one or more hardware game pieces or theone or more private information software applications for use duringgame play. One illustrative process which is made available by the gameserver 102 to game players for selecting between such one or morehardware game pieces and one or more private information softwareapplications will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.11.

The remote player(s) game service 330 illustratively provides a link orportal via which multiple players, some or all of which may locatedremotely from each other, may play one or more electronic board games.In one embodiment, the remote player(s) game service 330 furtherprovides one or more downloadable software program applications whichmay be downloaded and installed by users to enable one or moreelectronic board games to be played remotely and/or to facilitate suchremote game play. Such one or more downloadable software applicationprograms may be configured to enable and/or facilitate synchronousremote game play, i.e., one or more game participants located remotelyfrom other game participants with all participants playing theelectronic board game at the same time, and/or may be configured toenable and/or facilitate asynchronous remote game play, i.e., one ormore game participants located remotely from other game participantswith each player taking a turn and then waiting for the next player todo so. Asynchronous game play may occur continuously and/or may occur inblocks of game activity with periods of inactivity between such blocksof activity. The game management program and/or the game acquisitionmodule 306 may further include a sub-module or link which directs usersto the remote player(s) game service 330. In any case, the remoteplayer(s) game service 330 may be accessed by any of the user computingdevices 104, 106, and any one or more software application programswhich enable and/or facilitate remote game play may be downloadedthereto from the remote player(s) game service 330. Upon installation,such one or software application programs may be activated to enableand/or facilitate remote play of one or more electronic board games.

The game recommendation service 332 illustratively provides access toone or more game recommendation applications configured, upon userrequest, to process a user's electronic board game collection along withat least a first criterion and recommend one or more games in the user'scollection of games to play, and/or to access and process electronicboard games not in the user's electronic board game collection alongwith at least the first or a second criterion different from the firstcriterion and recommend one or more such electronic board games not inthe user's collection of electronic board games to play. The gamemanagement program and/or the game acquisition module 306 may furtherinclude a sub-module or link which directs users to the gamerecommendation service 332. In one embodiment, the one or more gamerecommendation applications are under the control of the game server 102and therefore executed by the processor 140. Alternatively oradditionally, at least one of the one or more game recommendationapplications and/or one or more components thereof, may be executable bya processor of the user computing device 104, 106 and/or an electronicdevice 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K), and may therefore be downloadedfrom the game recommendation service and/or the game acquisition module306 and installed on the user computing device 104, 106 and/orelectronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K). Upon installation on auser computing device 104, 106 and/or on one or more of the electronicdevices 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K), such one or more gamerecommendation applications may be activated and used to request gamerecommendations. One illustrative process which is made available by thegame recommendation service 332 to electronic board game users forrequesting and obtaining recommendations of one or more electronic boardgames to play from the user's collection of electronic board games, orof one or more electronic board games to play that is/are not in theuser's collection of board games, will be described in detail below withreference to FIG. 12.

The game policy service 334 illustratively provides user access to oneor more game access limit applications configured, upon user request, tolimit access to one or more of the electronic board games in the user'scollection of electronic board games. Example access limits which may beimposed by the user on one or more of the electronic board games In theuser's collection of electronic board games may include, but are notlimited to, a time limit on continuous play of one or more electronicboard games in the user's collection, a time limit on the total time inany one day or other block of time which one or more electronic boardgames in the user's collection may be played, one or more time blocksduring which play of one or more electronic board games in the user'scollection may or may not be played, and restricted access to one ormore electronic board games in the user's collection. The gamemanagement program and/or the game acquisition module 306 may furtherinclude a sub-module or link which directs users to the game policyservice 334. In one embodiment, the one or more game access limitapplications are under the control of the game server 102 and thereforeexecuted by the processor 140. Alternatively or additionally, at leastone of the one or more game access limit applications and/or one or morecomponents thereof, may be executable by a processor of the usercomputing device 104, 106 and/or an electronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J),112 ₁-112 _(K), and may therefore be downloaded from the game policyservice and/or the game acquisition module 306 and installed on the usercomputing device 104, 106 and/or electronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112₁-112 _(K). Upon installation on a user computing device 104, 106 and/oron one or more of the electronic devices 110 ₁-110 _(J), 112 ₁-112 _(K),such one or more game access limit applications may be activated andused to set one or more access limits to one or more of the electronicboard games in the user's collection of electronic board games. Oneillustrative process which is made available by the game policy service334 to electronic board game users for setting one or more access limitsto one or more electronic board games in the user's collection ofelectronic board games will be described in detail below with referenceto FIG. 13.

The game acquisition module 306 shown in FIG. 7 is illustrativelyprovided for, and may be configured to be accessed by, users (i.e.players) of electronic board games for the purpose of acquiring one ormore electronic board games to play and/or for the purpose of uploadingmodified versions of electronic board games for use by others. In theillustrated embodiment, the game acquisition module 306 includes alicensing and use rights information sub-module 336, an electronic boardgame download manager 338 and a modified electronic board game uploadmanager 340. The licensing and use rights information sub-module 336illustratively contains legal information relating to licensing and userights associated with the various versions of electronic board gamesacquired and/or uploaded by users from or to the game acquisition module306. In one embodiment, such information is displayed to users via theuser computing device 104, 106 and/or electronic device 110 ₁-110 _(J),112 ₁-112 _(K) upon acquisition and/or upload of each electronic boardgame acquired or uploaded by a user. Alternatively or additionally, suchinformation may be provided as a selectable feature of the gamemanagement program that may be accessed by a user at any time.

The electronic board game download manager 338 provides for theacquisition, e.g., via download, of any of various versions of one ormore electronic board games. In one embodiment, an electronic board gameis selected using the game management program as discussed above, andthe game management program illustratively directs the user to theelectronic board game download manager 338. Alternatively oradditionally, a user may find one or more electronic board games toacquire via one or more websites hosted on one or more of the webservers 202 or other server(s). Alternatively or additionally still, auser may download one or more electronic board games from one or morelocal storage media such as one or more CD ROMs, one or more so-calledmemory sticks or thumb drives, e.g., portable data storage devices withflash or other memory and/or with a universal serial bus (USB) or otherdrive interface, or the like. In any case, the one or more electronicboard games may typically be downloaded, e.g., in the form of one ormore executable software programs, by any suitable means into the memory124 and/or data storage 126 of the user computing device 104, 106, andmay be accessed by users, e.g., via the game management program or othergame selection mechanism, and activated for play by the user in aconventional manner. When activated, the processor 120 executes the oneor more executable software programs of the electronic board gamesoftware such that the user and/or one or more other players may playthe electronic board game.

In the illustrated embodiment, a user may download any of at least threedifferent versions of a selected electronic board game; a full andcomplete version, e.g., having no feature, other restrictions to playthereof, a limited version and/or a modifiable version. In oneembodiment, the full and complete version carries the highest monetarycost to the user in return for ownership of the electronic board gamewith no limits, restrictions or other conditions. In some alternativeembodiments, however, the modifiable version may instead carry thehighest monetary cost to the user in return for modification rights tothe electronic board game.

In one embodiment, the limited version is the full and complete versionthat may be played for only a limited duration, e.g., for a limited timeperiod, e.g., days, weeks, other definable block of time, for a limitednumber of times, e.g., 10 times, or the like. Alternatively oradditionally, the limited version may be a so-called “lite” version inwhich access to one or more features or operations of the electronicboard game is/are disabled or otherwise restricted. For limited versionswhich may be played only for a limited duration, access to the limitedversion may be disabled upon expiration of the limited duration, and insome embodiments further access to the limited version may be extendedupon payment for such additional access. The limited versionillustratively carries the lowest monetary cost to the user since theuser effectively leases this version and/or does not have access to allof the features and/or operations of the electronic board game. Inreturn for this limited or restricted access, users may thus test driveelectronic board games more cheaply than by purchasing the full andcomplete version, thereby providing electronic board game users with theability to experience the game before committing to purchase of thefull/complete, and therefore more expensive, version. Any such limitedversion may alternatively or additionally include other features thatare not necessarily associated with the game, such as one or moreadvertisements for other games, game pieces, etc. or other items. Anysuch other features may be or include any one or more of image, video,animation and audio content.

Acquisition of the modifiable version may carry more or less monetaryexpense to the user, as described above, and in any case represents aversion of the electronic board game that the user may modify. Asdiscussed above, the developer of an electronic board game may limit thenumber and/or type(s) of features of the electronic board game that maybe modified, or may disable any and all modifications to the electronicboard game. One illustrative process which is made available by the gamedownload manager 338 to electronic board game users for acquiring one ormore versions of one or more electronic board games will be described indetail below with reference to FIG. 14.

In versions of an electronic board game in which the electronic boardgame developer permits modifications thereto, the user acquiring such amodifiable version may make modifications, as permitted by the gamedeveloper, and may save the modified version in the memory 124 and/ordata storage 126 of the user computing device 104, 106 for future use,i.e. future play. In some embodiments, the game developer may chargedifferent fees for different modifiable versions, i.e., different feesfor different limits on the modifiability of the game and/or differentfees for different uses of the modifiable version of the game, e.g.,modified for personal use only, modified for distribution to others,etc. Illustratively, the user may further utilize the modified gameupload manager 340 to upload the user-modified version of the electronicboard game to the game server 102 for download and use by others, and insome embodiments may elect to either allow others to download and usethe user-modified version for free or charge a fee for download and useof the user-modified version. In the latter case, the developer of theoriginal electronic board game may require a share of the revenue fromsales of user-modified version of the electronic board game, and theamount of this share may vary depending upon the degree or extent ofmodifications allowed by the game developer to the electronic boardgame. Illustratively, the user may be required to agree to the revenueshare dictated by the game developer before uploading of theuser-modified electronic board game is permitted. The user may insteadelect not to share the dictated revenue amount with the game developer,in which case the user will not be permitted to upload the user-modifiedversion of the electronic board game to the game server 102 for sale toothers. The user may illustratively have the option, in such cases, toupload the user-modified version of the electronic board game to thegame server 102 for free use by others. In any case, the modified gameupload manager 340 may be or include conventional software and/orfirmware which manages and carries out uploading of one or moreexecutable software programs that defined the user-modified version ofthe electronic board game. One illustrative process which is madeavailable by the modified game upload manager 340 to electronic boardgame users for uploading one or more user-modified versions of one ormore electronic board games will be described in detail below withreference to FIG. 15.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a simplified flow diagram is shown of oneillustrative process 400 which is made available by the game server 102to electronic board game developers for tracking and keeping track ofthe positions of players relative to the playing surface of anelectronic game board displayed on the display screen of the usercomputing device 104, 106 to thereby distinguish one player from anotherduring play of an electronic board game. The process 400 may be executedby the processor 120 of one or more of the user computing devices 104,106 used during development and/or design of an electronic board game.The process 400 assumes that each of one or more game players will havein their possession a unique hardware game piece which is to be assignedto that player and which will be recognized after execution of theprocess 400 by the user computing device 104, 106 during play of theelectronic board game. In the embodiment of the process 400 illustratedin FIG. 8, the uniqueness of such hardware game pieces is illustrativelydefined by the shapes or footprints of their bases as illustrated anddescribed hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 3-5.

The process 400 begins at block 402 where the processor 120 prompts theone or more players to enter their name(s), e.g., in player namefield(s) displayed on the display 132. The processor 120 illustrativelydetermines from the player names entered at block 402 the total numberof players playing the game. Thereafter at block 404 the processor 120prompts each player to place the base of that player's unique hardwaregame piece on the display 132 by or against that player's name displayedon the 132. Thereafter at block 406, the processor 120 senses, e.g., viatouch screen, camera image or video, the footprint of player's uniquehardware game piece. At block 408, the processor 120 assigns each of thesensed footprints to a corresponding player, e.g., by associating thesensed footprint of player's unique hardware game piece with thedisplayed name by or against which the base of player's unique hardwaregame piece was placed at block 404. Thereafter at block 410, theprocessor 120 senses the footprints of each of the unique hardware gamepieces and associates the sensed footprints with corresponding playersto which the sensed footprints are assigned to thereby distinguish thevarious players from each other and to also determine positions of thevarious players relative to the surface of the electronic board gamedisplayed on the display 132 during game play.

In other embodiments, as described above, the uniqueness of the varioushardware game pieces may be defined by a communication device, e.g., anNFC device or an RFID tag or other communication device, attached to orembedded within the base or other portion of each of the varioushardware game pieces. In such embodiments, the process 400 may bemodified such that block 404 requires each player to select his or hername on the display screen, e.g., by touching his or her name on thedisplay screen (which may, for example, cause that person's name to behighlighted), and to then bring his or her hardware game piece intoproximity with the user computing device 104, 106 which is executing theelectronic board game, e.g., by placing the player's hardware game pieceanywhere on the surface of the display 132, while other players keeptheir game pieces sufficiently away from the user computing device 104,106 to avoid sensing by the user computing device 104, 106 of such othergame pieces. Block 406 may also be modified to require sensing of aplayer's unique hardware game piece by sensing the unique signalproduced by the communication device carried by the player's hardwaregame piece. In some embodiments, such communication signals may befurther distinguishable from communication signals produced by the otherhardware game pieces by requiring conventional “pairing,” as this termis generally understood in the context wireless communication protocol,e.g., Bluetooth® and other such communication protocols, between thecommunication devices of the hardware game pieces and the communicationcircuitry 128 of the user computing device 104, 106 to thereby establishsecure communication channels between the processor 120 and each of thevarious hardware game pieces. In any case, block 408 may be modified torequire the processor 120 to assign the unique signal produced by theplayer's communication device to that player, and block 410 may bemodified to require the processor 120 to distinguish players from oneanother by sensing and distinguishing between the various uniquecommunication signals produced by the communication devices carried byor embedded within the player's hardware game pieces.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a simplified flow diagram is shown of oneillustrative process for use by electronic board game developers to setrules for modification by users of electronic board games designedand/or developed by the electronic board game developers. The process500 may be executed by the processor 140 of the game server 102 and/orby the processor 120 of a user computing device 104, 106 or othercomputing device controlled by an electronic board game developer duringthe design and/or development of an electronic board game. For purposesof facilitating an understanding of FIG. 9, the process 500 will bedescribed as being executed by the processor 120 of a user computingdevice 104, 106. The process 500 begins at block 502 where the processor120 prompts the game developer, e.g., by controlling the display 132 ofthe user computing device 104, 106 to display a suitable message, toallow or disable modifications of the subject electronic board game. Ifthe game developer elects to disable modifications to the subject game,the process 500 advances to block 504 in which the processor 120disables modifications to the subject game (e.g., the processor 120 mayset a game modification indicator to indicate that no modifications areallowed). If the game developer otherwise elects to allow modificationsto the subject game, the process 500 advances from block 502 to block506 where the processor 120 prompts the user to select the level ofallowed modifications (e.g., permit full editing of the subject game,restrict modifications of the game to a total number of features thatmay be modified by a user, or restrict modifications of the game to oneor more types of modifiable features). If the game developer elects topermit full editing of the subject electronic board game, e.g.; meaningthat any user of the subject electronic board game may modify anyfeature of the subject electronic board game, the process 500 advancesfrom block 506 to block 508 in which the processor 120 enables fullmodification of the subject game (e.g., the processor may set the gamemodification indicator to signify any user of the subject electronicboard game may modify any feature of the subject electronic board game).

If the game developer elects to restrict modifications of the game to atotal number of features that may be modified by a user, e.g., meaningthat user modifications to the subject electronic board game are allowedbut are restricted to a maximum number of modifications that may be madeto the subject the electronic board game by any one user, the process500 advances from block 506 to block 510 in which processor enablesfeature-limited modification to the subject game (e.g., the processormay set the game modification indicator to signify that modifications tothe subject game by any one user are limited to a maximum number ofmodifications). Thereafter, at block 512, the processor 120 prompts thegame developer to enter the total (maximum) number of features of thesubject electronic board game which may be modified by any one user ofthe game. At block 514, the processor 120 sets the total number offeatures of the subject electronic board game which may be modified asspecified by the game developer in response to the prompt at block 512(e.g., the processor 120 may set a feature number indicator to thenumber of modifiable features).

If the game developer elects to restrict modifications of the game toone or more types of features that may be modified by a user, e.g.,meaning that user modifications to the subject electronic board game areallowed but are restricted to modifications only of one or morespecified types of features of the subject the electronic board game,the process 500 advances from block 506 to block 516 in which theprocessor enables feature-type modification of the subject game (e.g.,the processor may set the game modification indicator to signify thatmodifications to the subject game by any one user are limited tomodifications only of one or more specified types of game features).Thereafter at block 518, the processor 120 prompts the game developer tospecify the one or more types of features of the subject electronicboard game which may be modified, e.g., by displaying a list of featurestypes and allowing the game developer to select one or more of thefeature types in the displayed list. Thereafter at block 520, theprocessor 120 sets the feature type(s) that may be modified as specifiedby the game developer in response to the prompt at block 518 (e.g., theprocessor 120 may set a feature type indicator to the one or morefeature types that may be modified). Illustratively, the feature typesthat may be modified may include any type of feature of the subjectelectronic board game. Examples include, but should not be limited to,one or more game rules or sets of game rules, appearance (e.g., color,shape, size, etc.) of the game board and/or any game component, amountand/or type of game currency, content of one or more game cards or setsof cards, content of one or more landing spaces on the game board, andthe like.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a simplified flow diagram is shown of oneillustrative process 600 which is made available by the game server 102to game players for replacing one or more hardware game pieces in anyparticular electronic board game in the user's collection of electronicboard games with one or more corresponding virtual game pieces. Theprocess 600 may be executed by the processor 140 of the game server 102and/or by the processor 120 of a user computing device 104, 106. Forpurposes of facilitating an understanding of FIG. 10, the process 600will be described as being executed by the processor 120 of a usercomputing device 104, 106. The process 600 may illustratively beprovided to users as a selectable option within the game managementprogram and/or as a selectable option when activating any of the one ormore electronic board games in the user's collection of electronic boardgames. In any case, the process 600 begins at block 602 where theprocessor 120 prompts the user, e.g., via control of the display 132 ofthe user computing device 104, 106, to select a hardware component (HWC)to replace with a corresponding virtual component. The processor 120 mayexecute the block 602, e.g., by controlling the display 132 of the usercomputing device 104, 106 to display a list of the different hardwaregame pieces or components usable in the subject electronic board game.

When the user selects a hardware component at block 602, the process 600advances to block 604 in which the processor 120 determines whether theuser desires to purchase a virtual component application, e.g., from thegame piece applications library 326. If the user does not desire or needto purchase a virtual component application (e.g., the user already hasa corresponding virtual component application, the user has previouslydownloaded a suitable virtual component application for the selectedhardware component, etc.), the process 600 advances to block 608described below. However, if the user elects to purchase a correspondingvirtual component application, the process 600 advances from block 604to block 606 where the processor 120 identifies a link for purchase ofthe virtual component application, e.g., from the game pieceapplications library 326 or other source, and/or identifies one or morelinks for a number of different virtual versions or variations of theHWC application, e.g., from the game piece applications library 326 orother source. Illustratively, the processor 120 may execute block 606 bycontrolling the display 132 to display the link on the display 132,and/or to display one or more links for a number of different virtualversions or variations of the HWC application, in the game piece libraryor other source.

When the user selects the link or links, the processor 120illustratively directs the process 600 to the game piece applicationslibrary 326 or other source where the user may purchase a virtualcomponent application corresponding to the selected HWC. In any case, ifthe user elects at block 604 to skip the purchase block 606, and afterexecution of the purchase block 606, the process 600 advances to block608 where the processor 120 prompts the user to select another hardwarecomponent to replace with a corresponding virtual component or to exitthe process 600. If the user elects to select another hardware componentto replace with a corresponding virtual component, the process 600 loopsback to block 602, and the process 600 otherwise terminates.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a simplified flow diagram is shown of at leastone embodiment of a process 650 for selecting a mechanism for hidingprivate, game-related information from other players during game play.The process 650 may be executed by the processor 140 of the game server102 and/or by the processor 120 of a user computing device 104, 106. Forpurposes of facilitating an understanding of FIG. 11, the process 650will be described as being executed by the processor 120 of a usercomputing device 104, 106. The process 650 may illustratively beprovided to users as a selectable option within the game managementprogram and/or as a selectable option when activating any of the one ormore electronic board games in the user's collection of electronic boardgames. In any case, the process 650 begins at block 652 in which theprocessor 120 prompts, e.g., via control of the display 132 of the usercomputing device 104, 106, to allow the players to select to play thegame using one or more hardware game pieces, multiple electronicdevices, or a single electronic device to keep at least some of the gameinformation private, i.e., to hide private, game-related informationfrom other players during game play. If the players elect to play thegame using multiple electronic devices, e.g., one for each player, tohide private game-related information from other players during gameplay, the processor 120 prompts to enter the number of multipleelectronic devices that will be used to hide the private game-relatedinformation from other players at block 654, and one of the playersresponds by entering a corresponding integer number. If the players, atblock 652, elect to play the game using only a single electronic device,e.g., one that will be passed around or otherwise used by each of theplayers of the game, to hide private game-related information from otherplayers during game play, the processor 120 sets the number ofelectronic device to one in block 656.

Following execution of the block 654 or the block 656, the process 600advances to block 658 where the processor 120 prompts to identify thetype of electronic device(s) that will be used, e.g., as between one ormore hand-held (HH) electronic devices and one or more other electronicdevices. If one of the players selects hand-held (HH), the process 600advances to block 660 in which the processor 120 identifies one or morelinks, e.g., by controlling the display 132 to display the one or morelinks for one or more versions of the downloadable game privacyapplication(s) suitable for the number of handheld electronic devices.Illustratively, at least one of the one or more displayed links may be alink to one or more such suitable applications contained in the gamepiece applications library 326, the private game component sub-module328 or other suitable library or website accessible by the usercomputing device 104, 106.

If one of the players selects “other” electronic devices at block 658,the process 600 advances to block 662 where the processor 120 identifiesone or more links, e.g., by controlling the display 132 to display theone or more links for one or more versions of the downloadable gameprivacy software program(s) suitable for the number of electronicdevices other than handheld devices. Illustratively, at least one of theone or more displayed links may be a link to one or more such suitablesoftware programs contained in the game piece applications library 326,the private game component sub-module 328 or other suitable library orwebsite accessible by the user computing device 104, 106. The process650 terminates following execution of either of the blocks 660 or 662.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a simplified flow diagram is shown of at leastone embodiment of a process 700 for recommending an electronic boardgame to a user from the user's collection of electronic board gamesand/or from a catalogue or library of new games. The process 700 may beexecuted by the processor 140 of the game server 102 and/or by theprocessor 120 of a user computing device 104, 106, and is illustrativelymade available to users via the game recommendation service 332 of thegame services module 304. For purposes of facilitating an understandingof FIG. 12, the process 700 will be described as being executed by theprocessor 120 of a user computing device 104, 106. The process 700 mayillustratively be provided to users as a selectable option within thegame management program and/or as a separate service which users mayjoin separately from the game management program. In any case, theprocess 700 begins at block 702 where the processor 120 collectsinformation about the player or players of an electronic board game thatwill be recommended by the process 700. In one embodiment, the processor120 executes the block 702 by prompting the user, e.g., via control ofthe display 132 of the user computing device 104, 106, for informationabout the player or players of an electronic board game that will berecommended by the process 700. In one embodiment, the information mayinclude only the total number of players that will be playing the gameto be recommended, although other embodiments are contemplated in whichalternate or additional information about the identified and/orpotential game players may be requested or provided. Examples include,but are not limited to, one or more of the names, ages and genders ofone or more of the identified and/or potential players, skill level(s)of one or more of the identified and/or potential players,identifications, e.g., usernames, within the game recommendation service332 of one or more of the identified and/or potential players, time ofday at one or more of the identified and/or potential player's location,geographic location of one or more of the identified and/or potentialplayers and/or personal information about one or more identified and/orpotential players, and the like. In other embodiments, the processor 120collects the player information by automatically sensing as potentialplayers electronic devices proximate to the user computing device 104,106, and/or by automatically determining as potential players a list ofusers/players currently logged into one or more remote electronic boardgame playing websites or portals.

Following block 702, the process 700 advances to block 704 where theprocessor 120 prompts the user, e.g., via control of the display 132 ofthe user computing device 104, 106, to select the recommendation of anelectronic board game from the user's collection of electronic boardgames or the recommendation of a new electronic board game to play,e.g., one that is not in the user's collection of electronic boardgames. If the user elects at block 704 to obtain a recommendation of anelectronic board game from the user's collection of electronic boardgames, the process 700 advances to block 706 where the processor 120chooses one or more games to recommend to the user based on onerecommendation criterion or multiple recommendation criteria, i.e., oneor more game selection factors. The recommendation criterion or criteriamy be limited to the information collected at block 702 or may includeone or more additional or alternate criteria. Examples of such one ormore additional or alternate criteria may include, but should not belimited to, game playing history of the user and/or identifiedplayer(s), i.e., one or more electronic board games played most often bythe user and the identified player(s), electronic board games similar toone or more electronic board games played most often by the user and/oridentified player(s), etc., time of day, geographic location of theuser, age or other personal information about the user, geographiclocation and/or personal information about one or more identifiedplayers or potential players, local, regional and/or global popularityof board games in the user's collection, or the like.

Following block 706, the process 700 advances to block 708 where theprocessor 120 controls the display 132 to display a list of therecommended games, i.e., those chosen at block 706. Thereafter at block710, the processor 120 prompts the user to select a game from thedisplayed list or to select to recommend other games from the user'scollection of electronic board games. If the former, the process 700advances to block 712 where the processor 120 executes the selectedgame. If the latter, the process 700 advances to block 714 where theprocessor 120 modifies one or more of the game selection factors used atblock 706. Such modification of one or more of the game selectionfactors may be limited to information collected at the block 702, or mayinclude additional or alternate criteria. Examples of such one or moreadditional or alternate criteria may include, but should not be limitedto, game playing history of the user and/or identified player(s), i.e.,one or more electronic board games played most often by the user and theidentified player(s), electronic board games similar to one or moreelectronic board games played most often by the user and/or identifiedplayer(s), electronic board games having similar complexity and/orchallenge to one or more electronic board games in the user's collectionand/or to one or more electronic board games played most often by theidentified player(s), time of day, geographic location of the user, ageor other personal information about the user, geographic location and/orpersonal information about one or more identified players or potentialplayers, local, regional and/or global popularity of board games in theuser's collection, or the like. The process 700 loops from the block 714to the block 706.

If, at block 704, the processor 120 determines that the user has electedto obtain a recommendation for a new electronic board game to play,i.e., one that is not currently in the user's collection of electronicboard games, the process 700 advances to block 716 where the processor120 is operable to select one or more new electronic board games (i.e.,not in the user's collection of one or more electronic board games) toplay based on one recommendation criterion or multiple recommendationcriteria, e.g., on one or more new game selection factors. Therecommendation criterion or criteria at the block 716 may be limited tothe information collected at block 706 or may include one or moreadditional or alternate criteria. Examples of such one or moreadditional or alternate criteria may include, but should not be limitedto, electronic board games similar to one or more electronic board gamesplayed most often by the user and/or identified player(s), electronicboard games which have similar complexity and/or challenge to one ormore electronic board games in the user's collection and/or to one ormore electronic board games played most often by the identifiedplayer(s), time of day, geographic location of the user, age or otherpersonal information about the user, geographic location and/or personalinformation about one or more identified players or potential players,local, regional and/or global popularity of electronic and/or hardwareboard games not in the user's collection of electronic board games, orthe like. In any case, the process 700 advances from block 716 to block718 where the processor 120 controls the display 132 of the usercomputing device 104, 106 to display a list of one or more recommendedelectronic board games selected at block 716. Thereafter at block 720,the processor 120 prompts the user to select a game from the listdisplayed at block 718. When the user selects a game from this list, theprocess 700 advances to block 722 where the processor 120 directs theuser to the game download manager 338 or to another suitable websitewhere the user may acquire the recommended electronic board game. Theprocess 700 terminates after either of blocks 712 or 722.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a simplified flow diagram is shown of at leastone embodiment of a process 800 which is made available by the gamepolicy service 334 to electronic board game users for setting one ormore access limits to one or more electronic board games in the user'scollection of electronic board games. The process 800 may be executed bythe processor 140 of the game server 102 and/or by the processor 120 ofa user computing device 104, 106. For purposes of facilitating anunderstanding of FIG. 13, the process 800 will be described as beingexecuted by the processor 120 of a user computing device 104, 106. Theprocess 800 may illustratively be provided to users as a selectableoption within the game management program and/or as a separate servicewhich users may join separately from the game management program. In anycase, the process 800 begins at block 802 where the processor 120controls the display 132 of the user computing device 104, 106 todisplay a list of electronic board games in the user's collection ofelectronic board games. Thereafter at block 804, the processor 120prompts the user, e.g., via control of the display 132, to select a gamefrom the displayed list for access modification. Thereafter at block806, the processor 120 prompts the user, e.g., via control of thedisplay 132, to elect to disable access to the selected electronic boardgame, set one or more playing time limits for the selected electronicboard game or to set one or more non-use time blocks for the selectedelectronic board game. If the user selects to disable access to theselected electronic board game, the process 800 advances to block 808where the processor 120 disables access to the selected game. Subsequentattempts to activate (i.e., execute) the selected electronic board gamewill be denied, and may be accompanied by display of a suitableinformative message describing a reason for denying access to theselected electronic board game. The process 800 advances from block 808to block 822.

If, at block 806, the processor 120 determines that user has elected toset one or more playing time limits for the selected electronic boardgame, the process 800 advances to block 810 where the processor 120prompts the user, e.g., via control of the display 132, to set acontinuous play time limit to limit continuous play of the selectedelectronic board game for a specified time duration, or to set a totalplaying time limit to limit the total time of play of the selectedelectronic board game during any one day or other time period. Theprocess 800 advances from block 810 to block 812 where the processor 120sets the play time limit based on information provided by the user inresponse to the prompt at block 810, and thereafter at block 814 theprocessor 120 prompts the user to set another time limit. If the user soelects, the process 800 loops back to block 810, and otherwise theprocess 800 advances to block 822. Subsequent attempts to activate(i.e., execute) the selected electronic board game after the selectedboard game has been played continuously for at least set allowablecontinuous play time period and/or has been played for at least the setallowable total play time limit during one day (or other defined timeperiod), will be denied, and may be accompanied by display of a suitableinformative message describing a reason for denying access to theselected electronic board game.

If, at block 806, the user elects to set one or more non-use time blocksfor the selected electronic board game, the process 800 advances toblock 816 where the processor 120 prompts, e.g., via control of thedisplay 132, to set a start time and an end time to designate a timeblock of non-use of the selected electronic board game. Thereafter atblock 818, the processor 120 sets the non-use time block with the startand end times selected by the user in response to the prompt at block816, and thereafter at block 820 the processor 120 prompts the user toset another time block. If the user so elects, the process 800 loopsback to block 816, and otherwise the process 800 advances to block 822.Subsequent attempts to activate (i.e., execute) the selected electronicboard game during any of the non-use time blocks set at block 818 willbe denied, and may be accompanied by display of a suitable informativemessage describing a reason for denying access to the selectedelectronic board game.

At block 822, the processor 120 prompts the user to select anotherelectronic board game in the user's collection of electronic board gamesin which to limit playing access. If the user so elects, the process 800loops back to block 822, and otherwise the process 800 terminates.

It will be appreciated that the process 800 may alternatively oradditionally include conventional blocks to limit, grant and/or denyaccess to one or more electronic board games in the user's collection ofelectronic board games based on the identity of the person attempting toaccess an electronic board game from the user's collection. For example,the process 800 may be modified to include conventional blocks forlimiting, granting and/or denying access to one or more electronic boardgames in the user's collection of electronic board games based on one ormore specific player passwords or other game access codes, based on anyand all passwords or other access codes other than that of the user, orthe like. Modifications to the process 800 to include such conventionalblocks would be a mechanical block for skilled programmer.

Referring now to FIG. 14, a simplified flow diagram is shown of at leastone embodiment of a process 900 which is made available by the gamedownload manager 338 to electronic board game users for acquiring one ormore electronic board games. The process 900 may be executed by theprocessor 140 of the game server 102 and/or by the processor 120 of auser computing device 104, 106. For purposes of facilitating anunderstanding of FIG. 14, the process 900 will be described as beingexecuted by the processor 120 of a user computing device 104, 106. Theprocess 900 assumes that the user has selected an electronic board gameto acquire, and the process 900 operates to guide the user through oneof several electronic board game acquisition options. In any case, theprocess 900 begins at block 902 where the processor 120 prompts theuser, e.g., via control of the display 132, to select to acquire thedesired version (e.g., full version, limited version, or modifiableversion) of the selected electronic board game. If the user elects toacquire the limited version, the process 900 advances to block 904 wherethe processor 120 informs, e.g., via control of the display 132, of thevarious limitations of the limited version of the selected electronichoard game. Examples of the various limitations which may be includedwith the limited version are described hereinabove with respect to thegame download manager block 388 illustrated in FIG. 7, and will not berepeated here for brevity.

If, at block 902, the user elects to acquire the modifiable version ofthe selected electronic board game, the process 900 advances to block906 in which the processor 120 determines whether the selectedelectronic board game is modifiable. If the game modification indicatorsignifies that all modifications to the game have been disabled, block906 directs the processor 120 to block 908 where the processor 120informs, e.g., via control of the display 132, that the selected gamecannot be modified. If, however, the game modification indicatorsignifies that the selected electronic board game is modifiable, theprocessor 120 determines the level of modification in block 910.

If the game modification indicator signifies that all features of theselected game can be modified, block 910 directs the processor 120 toblock 912 in which the processor 120 informs, e.g., via the display 132,that all features of the selected game may be modified. If gamemodification indicator signifies that only a maximum number of featuresof the selected game may be modified, block 910 directs the processor120 to block 914 in which the processor 120 informs, e.g., via controlof the display 132, of the maximum number of modifiable featuresdesignated by the game developer according to the process 500illustrated in FIG. 9. Finally, if game modification indicator signifiesthat only one or more types of features of the selected electronic boardgame may be modified, block 910 directs the processor 120 to block 916in which the processor 120 informs, e.g., via control of the display132, of the one or more types of modifiable features designated by thegame developer according to the process 500 illustrated in FIG. 9.Following each of blocks 904, 912, 914, 916 and if the user elects toacquire the full version of the selected electronic board game at block902, the process 900 advances to block 918 where the processor 120prompts the user, e.g., via control of the display 132, to download theselected version of the selected electronic board game. Thereafter theprocess 900 terminates.

Referring now to FIG. 15, a simplified flow diagram is shown of at leastone embodiment of a process 950 which is made available by the modifiedgame upload manager 340 to electronic board game users for uploadingmodified versions of one or more electronic board games. The process 950may be executed by the processor 140 of the game server 102 and/or bythe processor 120 of a user computing device 104, 106. For purposes offacilitating an understanding of FIG. 15, the process 950 will bedescribed as being executed by the processor 120 of a user computingdevice 104, 106. The process 950 assumes that the user has acquired anoriginal, modifiable version of an electronic board game, e.g., via thegame download manager 338, and has modified the original, modifiableversion in accordance with any modification limits imposed by the gamedeveloper, to produce a modified version of the electronic board gamethat the user wishes to upload to the game server 102 to thereby makethe modified version of the electronic board game available to others.The process 950 begins at block 952 where the processor 120 prompts theuser, e.g., via the display screen of the user computing device 104,106, to enter a game identification (GID) of the original version of themodified version of the electronic board game. Illustratively, the gameidentification, GID, is an alphanumeric or other code which uniquelyidentifies the original version of the electronic board game acquiredby, and then modified by, the user. The game identification may, forexample, be provided to the user at the time the user acquires themodifiable version of the electronic board game. In any case, theprocess 950 advances from block 952 to block 954 where the processor 120prompts the user to elect to upload the modified version of theelectronic board game for free use by others or for sale to others. Ifthe former, the process 950 advances to block 958 where the processor120 prompts the user, e.g., via control of the display 132, to uploadthe modified version of the electronic board game for free use byothers. If the latter, the process 950 advances to block 956 where theprocessor 120 informs, e.g., via control of the display 132, of the gamedeveloper's revenue requirement and prompts the user to accept or rejectsuch requirement. For example, the game developer may require a Z %share of revenues from sales of all modified versions of the electronicboard game, where the value of Z may be arbitrary and will generally bedictated by the game developer. In some embodiments, the game developermay choose to select the value Z base, at least in part, on the degreeand/or type of modifications allowed by the game developer to theelectronic board game. In any case, if the user elects at bock 956 toaccept the game developer's revenue requirement, the process 900advances to block 958 where the processor 120 prompts, e.g., via controlof the display 132, to upload the modified version of the game. If theuser elects to reject the game developer's revenue requirement, andafter execution of the block 958, the process 900 terminates.

EXAMPLES

Illustrative examples of the devices, systems, and methods disclosedherein are provided below. An embodiment of the devices, systems, andmethods may include any one or more, and any combination of, theexamples described below.

Example 1 includes a server to host an electronic board game service viaa network, the server comprising a game development module to provideone or more electronic board templates and a plurality of electronicboard game piece templates to develop one or more electronic boardgames, a game acquisition module to provide for acquisition of the oneor more electronic board games by users of the electronic board gameservice, and a game services module to provide to users of theelectronic board game service at least one service relating to the oneor more electronic board games.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and wherein theplurality of electronic board game piece templates comprise any one orcombination of one or more card templates, one or more die or dicetemplates, one or more game currency templates, one or more paper piecetemplates and one or more plastic and/or metal game piece templates.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1 and 2, andwherein at least one of the one or more electronic board games includesa plurality of unique hardware game pieces, and wherein the gamedevelopment module further comprises a hardware game pieceidentification sub-module to associate the plurality of unique hardwaregame pieces with one or more corresponding players of the at least oneof the one or more electronic board games.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-3, andwherein the plurality of unique hardware game pieces each define aunique footprint, and wherein the hardware game piece identificationsub-module is configured to associate the plurality of unique hardwaregame pieces with the one or more corresponding plurality of players byassigning a different one of the unique footprints to each of thecorresponding plurality of players.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-4, andwherein the plurality of unique hardware game pieces each comprise acommunication device configured to produce a unique identificationsignal, and wherein the hardware identification sub-module to associatethe plurality of unique hardware game pieces with the one or morecorresponding plurality of players by assigning a different one of theunique identification signals to each of the corresponding plurality ofplayers.

Example 6 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-5, andwherein the game development module comprises a game modification rulessub-module to define one or more rules for limiting modification of atleast one of the one or more electronic board games.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-6, andwherein the at least one of the one or more electronic board gamescomprises one of a plurality of different game features and a pluralityof different types of game features, and wherein the game modificationrules sub-module to define one of at least one rule to limit a totalnumber of features of the at least one of the one or more electronicboard games that may be modified to a subset of the plurality ofdifferent game features, at least one rule to limit the types offeatures of the at least one of the one or more electronic board gameswhich may be modified to a subset of the plurality of different types ofgame features, and at least one rule to disable any modification of theat least one of the one or more electronic board games.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-7, andwherein the game acquisition module comprises a game download manager tomanage downloading of the one or more electronic board games by theusers of the electronic board game service.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-8, andwherein the game download manager to make available for downloading bythe users of the electronic board game service at least one of a limitedversion and a modifiable version of the at least one of the one or moreelectronic board games.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-9, andwherein the game download manager to make available for download by theusers of the electronic board game service the limited version of theone or more electronic board games for only a predefined duration afterwhich the limited version of the one or more electronic board game isdisabled.

Example 11 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-10, andwherein the at least one of the one or more electronic board gamescomprises at least one of a plurality of different game features and aplurality of different types of game features, and wherein the gamedownload manager to limit modifications allowed to be made to themodifiable version of the at least one of the one or more electronicboard games by one of limiting a total number of features of themodifiable version of the at least one of the one or more electronicboard games that may be modified to a subset of the plurality ofdifferent game features, and limiting the types of features of themodifiable version of the at least one of the one or more electronicboard games that may be modified to a subset of the plurality ofdifferent types of game features.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-11, andwherein the game acquisition module comprises a modified game uploadmanager to manage uploading of the modifiable version of the at leastone of the one or more electronic board games to the server after themodifiable version is modified for one of free use by others and sale toothers.

Example 13 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-12, andwherein the modified game upload manager to manage uploading of themodified version of the modifiable version of the at least one of theone or more electronic board games for sale to others only uponacceptance by an uploader of the modified version of a revenue sharingamount between the uploader and a developer of the modifiable versionwhich revenue sharing amount defines an amount of revenue resulting fromsales of the modified version to others owed by the uploader to thedeveloper.

Example 14 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-13, andwherein the game services module comprises at least one of (a) a gamepiece applications library to store virtual game piece applications fordownloading by users of the electronic board game service, (b) a privategame component sub-module to store one or more software applicationsassociated with at least one of the one or more electronic board gamesfor hiding certain information related to play by one player of the atleast one of the one or more electronic board games from one or moreother players of the at least one of the one or more electronic boardgames, (c) a remote player game service to provide for playing of atleast one of the one or more electronic board games by a plurality ofusers, at least one of which is physically located remotely from othersof the plurality of users, (d) a game recommendation service torecommend to users one or more electronic board games to play from atleast one of the users' collection of electronic board games and a listof electronic board games in which none are part of the users'collection of electronic board games, based on at least onerecommendation criterion, and (e) a game policy service to limit accessto at least one electronic board game in a user's collection ofelectronic board games.

Example 15 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-14, andwherein the remote player game service to provide for playing of the atleast one of the one or more electronic board games at least one ofsynchronously and asynchronously between the plurality of users.

Example 16 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-15, andwherein the game policy server to at least one of (a) restrict access tothe at least one electronic board game by at least one user, (b) limitcontinuous play of the at least one electronic board game to a maximumtime period, and (c) limit total time of play of the at least oneelectronic board game within a predefined time period to a maximum timeamount.

Example 17 includes a method of hosting an electronic board game servicevia a network, the method comprising providing one or more electronicboard templates and a plurality of electronic board game piece templatesfor development of one or more electronic board games, providing foracquisition of the one or more electronic board games by users of theelectronic board game service, and providing to users of the electronicboard game service at least one service relating to the one or moreelectronic board games.

Example 18 includes the subject matter of Example 17, and wherein atleast one of the one or more electronic board games includes a pluralityof unique hardware game pieces, and wherein the method further comprisesassociating the plurality of unique hardware game pieces with one ormore corresponding players of the at least one of the one or moreelectronic board games.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 17 and 18, andwherein the plurality of unique hardware game pieces each define aunique footprint, and wherein associating the plurality of uniquehardware game pieces comprises associating the plurality of uniquehardware game pieces with the one or more corresponding plurality ofplayers by assigning a different one of the unique footprints to each ofthe corresponding plurality of players.

Example 20 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 17-19, andwherein the plurality of unique hardware game pieces each comprise acommunication device configured to produce a unique identificationsignal, and wherein associating the plurality of unique hardware gamepieces comprises associating the plurality of unique hardware gamepieces with the one or more corresponding plurality of players byassigning a different one of the unique identification signals to eachof the corresponding plurality of players.

Example 21 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 17-20, andfurther including providing for selection in the development of the oneor more electronic board games one or more rules for limitingmodification of at least one of the one or more electronic board games,wherein the at least of the one or more electronic board games comprisesat least one of a plurality of different game features and a pluralityof different types of game features, and wherein the one or more rulesfor limiting modification of at least one of the one or more electronicboard games includes (a) at least one rule to limit a total number offeatures of the at least one of the one or more electronic board gamesthat may be modified to a subset of the plurality of different gamefeatures, and/or (b) at least one rule to limit the types of features ofthe at least one of the one or more electronic board games which may bemodified to a subset of the plurality of different types of gamefeatures, and/or (c) at least one rule to disable any modification ofthe at least one of the one or more electronic board games.

Example 22 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 17-21, andwherein providing for acquisition of the one or more electronic boardgames comprises providing for downloading by the users of the electronicboard game service at least one of a full version, a limited version anda modifiable version of at least one of the one or more electronic boardgames.

Example 23 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 17-22, andfurther including providing for uploading of the modifiable version ofthe at least one of the one or more electronic board games to a serverof the electronic game service after the modifiable version is modifiedfor one of free use by others and for sale to others.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 17-23, andwherein providing for uploading of the modified version of the at leastone of the one or more electronic board games for sale to otherscomprises providing for uploading of the modified version only uponacceptance by an uploader of the modified version of a revenue sharingamount between the uploader and a developer of the modified versionwhich revenue sharing amount defines an amount of revenue resulting fromsales of the modified version to others owed by the uploader to thedeveloper.

Example 25 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 17-24, andwherein providing to the users at least one service relating to the oneor more electronic board games comprises at least one of (a) providingfor downloading by the users one or more virtual game pieceapplications, (b) providing for downloading by the users one or moresoftware applications associated with at least one of the one or moreelectronic board games for hiding certain information related to play byone player of the at least one of the one or more electronic board gamesfrom one or more other players of the at least one of the one or moreelectronic board games, (c) providing for playing of at least one of theone or more electronic board games by a plurality of users, at least oneof which is physically located remotely from others of the plurality ofusers, (d) providing to users at least one recommendation of one or moreelectronic board games to play from at least one of the users'collection of electronic board games and a list of electronic boardgames in which none are part of the users' collection, based on at leastone recommendation criterion, and (e) providing for limiting of accessto at least one electronic board game in a user's collection ofelectronic board games by at least one of (i) limiting of continuousplay of the at least one electronic board game to a maximum time period,(ii) limiting a total time of play of the at least one electronic boardgame within a predefined time period to a maximum time amount and (iii)restricting of access to the at least one electronic board game by atleast one user.

Example 26 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 17-25, andwherein providing for playing of at least one of the one or moreelectronic board games by a plurality of users, at least one of which isphysically located remotely from others of the plurality of users,comprises providing for playing of the at least one of the one or moreelectronic board games at least one of synchronously between theplurality of users and asynchronously between the plurality of players.

Example 27 includes one or more computer readable media containinginstructions for hosting an electronic board game service via a network,wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processors of acomputing device causes the one or more processors to provide one ormore electronic board templates and a plurality of electronic board gamepiece templates for development of one or more electronic board games,provide for acquisition of the one or more electronic board games byusers of the electronic board game service, and provide to users of theelectronic board game service at least one service relating to the oneor more electronic board games.

Example 28 includes the subject matter of Example 27, and wherein atleast one of the one or more electronic board games includes a pluralityof unique hardware game pieces, and wherein execution of theinstructions further causes the one or more processors to associate theplurality of unique hardware game pieces with one or more correspondingplayers of the at least one of the one or more electronic board games.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 27 and 28, andwherein the plurality of unique hardware game pieces each define aunique footprint, and wherein execution of the instructions furthercauses the one or more processors to associate the plurality of uniquehardware game pieces with the one or more corresponding plurality ofplayers by assigning a different one of the unique footprints to each ofthe corresponding plurality of players.

Example 30 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 27-29, andwherein the plurality of unique hardware game pieces each comprise acommunication device configured to produce a unique identificationsignal, and wherein execution of the instructions further causes the oneor more processors to associate the plurality of unique hardware gamepieces with the one or more corresponding plurality of players byassigning a different one of the unique identification signals to eachof the corresponding plurality of players.

Example 31 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 27-30, andwherein execution of the instructions further causes the one or moreprocessors to provide for selection in the development of the one ormore electronic board games one or more rules for limiting modificationof at least one of the one or more electronic board games, and whereinthe at least one of the one or more electronic board games comprises atleast one of a plurality of different game features and a plurality ofdifferent types of game features, and wherein execution of theinstructions further causes the one or more processors to include in theone or more rules (a) at least one rule to limit a total number offeatures of the at least one of the one or more electronic board gamesthat may be modified to a subset of the plurality of different gamefeatures, and/or (b) at least one rule to limit the types of features ofthe at least one of the one or more electronic board games which may bemodified to a subset of the plurality of different types of gamefeatures, and/or (c) at least one rule to disable any modification ofthe at least one of the one or more electronic board games.

Example 32 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 27-31, andwherein execution of the instructions further causes the one or moreprocessors to provide for downloading by the users of the electronicboard game service at least one of a full version, a limited version anda modifiable version of at least one of the one or more electronic boardgames.

Example 33 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 27-32, andwherein execution of the instructions further causes the one or moreprocessors to provide for uploading of the modifiable version of the atleast one of the one or more electronic board games to a server of theelectronic game service after the modifiable version is modified for oneof free use by others and sale to others.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 27-33, andwherein execution of the instructions further causes the one or moreprocessors to provide for uploading of the modified version for sale toothers only upon acceptance by an uploader of the modified version of arevenue sharing amount between the uploader and a developer of themodified version which revenue sharing amount defines an amount ofrevenue resulting from sales of the modified version to others owed bythe uploader to the developer.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 27-34, andwherein execution of the instructions further causes the one or moreprocessors to provide to users of the electronic board game service theat least one service relating to the one or more electronic board gamesby (a) providing for downloading by the users one or more virtual gamepiece applications, (b) providing for downloading by the users one ormore software applications associated with at least one of the one ormore electronic board games for hiding certain information related toplay by one player of the at least one of the one or more electronicboard games from one or more other players of the at least one of theone or more electronic board games, (c) providing for playing of atleast one of the one or more electronic board games by a plurality ofusers, at least one of which is physically located remotely from othersof the plurality of users, (d) providing to users at least onerecommendation of one or more electronic board games to play from atleast one of the users' collection of electronic board games and a listof electronic board games in which none are part of the users'collection of electronic board games, based on at least onerecommendation criterion, and (e) providing for limiting of access to atleast one electronic board game in a user's collection of electronicboard games by at least one of (i) providing for limiting of continuousplay of the at least one electronic board game to a maximum time period,(ii) providing for limiting a total time of play of the at least oneelectronic board game within a predefined time period to a maximum timeamount and (iii) providing for restricting of access to the at least oneelectronic board game by at least one user.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 27-35, andwherein execution of the instructions further causes the one or moreprocessors to provide for playing of the at least one of the one or moreelectronic board games by a plurality of users, at least one of which isphysically located remotely from others of the plurality of users, byproviding for remote playing of the at least one of the one or moreelectronic board games at least one of synchronously and asynchronouslybetween the plurality of users.

Example 37 includes a user computing device to execute electronic boardgames, the user computing device comprising a display screen orientableupwardly to support thereon at least one hardware game piece associatedwith at least one electronic board game, a memory to store the at leastone electronic board game, and a processor to execute the electronicboard game and to control the display screen to display an electronicversion of a board surface of the electronic board game.

Example 38 includes the subject matter of Example 37, and wherein thedisplay screen comprises a touch screen, the at least one hardware gamepiece comprising a plurality of different hardware game pieces eachdefining a unique footprint, and the processor to associate each of theplurality of different hardware game pieces with a different one of acorresponding plurality of players of the at least one electronic boardgame by sensing via the touch screen the unique footprint of each of theplurality of hardware game pieces and assigning each sensed, uniquefootprint to a different one of the plurality of players.

Example 39 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 37 and 38, andwherein the processor to track a position of each of the plurality ofplayers relative to the electronic version of the board surface of theelectronic board game by sensing via the touch screen the uniquefootprints of each of the plurality of hardware game pieces andassociating each of the sensed, unique footprints with the one of theplurality of players assigned thereto.

Example 40 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 37-39, andwherein the at least one hardware game piece comprises a plurality ofdifferent hardware game pieces each comprising a different communicationdevice to produce a unique identification signal, and the processor toassociate each of the plurality of different hardware game pieces with adifferent one of a corresponding plurality of players of the at leastone electronic board game by sensing the unique identification signalproduced by each of the different communication devices and assigningeach sensed, unique identification signal to a different one of theplurality of players.

Example 41 includes a method of managing and executing acquiredelectronic board games with a computing device having a memory, aprocessor and a display screen, the method comprising storing at leastone acquired electronic board game in the memory, executing theelectronic board game with the processor, controlling the display screenwith the processor during execution of the electronic board game todisplay thereon an electronic version of a board surface of theelectronic board game, and orienting the display screen upwardly tosupport thereon at least one hardware game piece associated with the atleast one electronic board game.

Example 42 includes the subject matter of Example 41, and wherein thedisplay screen comprises a touch screen, and the at least one hardwaregame piece comprises a plurality of different hardware game pieces eachdefining a unique footprint, and and wherein the method furthercomprises associating each of the plurality of different hardware gamepieces with a different one of a corresponding plurality of players ofthe at least one electronic board game by sensing via the touch screenthe unique footprint of each of the plurality of hardware game piecesand assigning each sensed, unique footprint to a different one of theplurality of players.

Example 43 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41 and 42, andwherein the method further comprises tracking a position of each of theplurality of players relative to the electronic version of the boardsurface of the electronic board game by sensing via the touch screen theunique footprints of each of the plurality of hardware game pieces andassociating each of the sensed, unique footprints with the one of theplurality of players assigned thereto.

Example 44 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-43, andwherein the at least one hardware game piece comprises a plurality ofdifferent hardware game pieces each comprising a different communicationdevice to produce a unique identification signal, and wherein the methodfurther comprises associating each of the plurality of differenthardware game pieces with a different one of a corresponding pluralityof players of the at least one electronic board game by sensing theunique identification signal produced by each of the differentcommunication devices and assigning each sensed, unique identificationsignal to a different one of the plurality of players.

Example 45 includes one or more computer readable media containinginstructions for managing and executing acquired electronic board games,wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processors of acomputing device having a display screen causes the one or moreprocessors to store at least one acquired electronic board game in amemory, execute the electronic board game, and control the displayscreen during execution of the electronic board game to display thereonan electronic version of a board surface of the electronic board game,wherein orienting the display screen upwardly provides a support surfacefor supporting at least one hardware game piece associated with the atleast one electronic board game.

Example 46 includes the subject matter of Example 45, and wherein thedisplay screen comprises a touch screen, and the at least one hardwaregame piece comprises a plurality of different hardware game pieces eachdefining a unique footprint, and and wherein execution of theinstructions causes the one or more processors to associate each of theplurality of different hardware game pieces with a different one of acorresponding plurality of players of the at least one electronic boardgame by sensing via the touch screen the unique footprint of each of theplurality of hardware game pieces and assigning each sensed, uniquefootprint to a different one of the plurality of players.

Example 47 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 45 and 46, andwherein execution of the instructions causes the one or more processorsto track a position of each of the plurality of players relative to theelectronic version of the board surface of the electronic board game bysensing via the touch screen the unique footprints of each of theplurality of hardware game pieces and associating each of the sensed,unique footprints with the one of the plurality of players assignedthereto.

Example 48 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 45-47, andwherein the at least one hardware game piece comprises a plurality ofdifferent hardware game pieces each comprising a different communicationdevice to produce a unique identification signal, and wherein executionof the instructions causes the one or more processors to associate eachof the plurality of different hardware game pieces with a different oneof a corresponding plurality of players of the at least one electronicboard game by sensing the unique identification signal produced by eachof the different communication devices and assigning each sensed, uniqueidentification signal to a different one of the plurality of players.

Example 49 includes a user computing device to design an electronicboard game, the user computing device comprising a communication circuitto conduct electronic communications via a network, a memory to store anelectronic board game, and a processor to control the communicationcircuit to receive via the network at least one game board template anda plurality of game piece templates to use to design the electronicboard game, and to store the designed electronic board game in thememory.

Example 50 includes the subject matter of Example 49, and wherein theelectronic board game comprises at least one of a plurality of differentgame features and a plurality of different types of game features, theprocessor to permit subsequent modification of at least one of (a) allof the different game features, (b) only a specified number of theplurality of different game features less that is than the plurality ofdifferent game features, and (c) only a specified subset of theplurality of different types of game features.

Example 51 includes a method of designing an electronic board game witha user computing device having a processor, a memory and configured tocommunicate via a network, the method comprising receiving via thenetwork at least one game board template and a plurality of game piecetemplates, using the at least one game board template and at least oneof the plurality of game piece templates to design the electronic boardgame, and storing the designed electronic board game in the memory.

Example 52 includes the subject matter of Example 51, and wherein thedesigned electronic board game comprises at least one of a plurality ofdifferent game features and a plurality of different types of gamefeatures, the method further comprising permitting subsequentmodification of at least one of (a) all of the different game features,(b) only a specified number of the plurality of different game featuresthat is less than the plurality of different game features, and (c) onlya specified subset of the plurality of different types of game features.

Example 53 includes one or more computer readable media includinginstructions for designing an electronic board game with a usercomputing device having one or more processors, a memory and configuredto communicate via a network, wherein execution of the instructions bythe one or more processors of the computing device causes the one ormore processors to receive via the network at least one game boardtemplate and a plurality of game piece templates, use the at least onegame board template and at least one of the plurality of game piecetemplates to design the electronic board game, and store the designedelectronic board game in the memory.

Example 54 includes the subject matter of Example 53, and wherein thedesigned electronic board game comprises at least one of a plurality ofdifferent game features and a plurality of different types of gamefeatures, and wherein execution of the instructions cause the one ormore processors to permit subsequent modification of at least one of (a)all of the different game features, (b) only a specified number of theplurality of different game features that is less than the plurality ofdifferent game features, and (c) only a specified subset of theplurality of different types of game features.

Example 55 includes a system for playing electronic board games, thesystem comprising a user computing device comprising a memory to storean electronic board game, a processor to execute the electronic boardgame and a display screen to display a graphical representation of theelectronic board game during execution thereof, at least one hardwaregame piece to be used during play of the electronic board game, and anelectronic device separate from the user computing device and comprisinga memory to store at least one of (a) a software application to hidecertain information relating to play by one player of the electronicboard game from other players of the electronic board game, a processorto execute the at least one software application and a display screen todisplay the certain information only to the one player during play ofthe electronic board game and (b) a software application of a virtualrepresentation of the at least one hardware game piece, a processor toexecute the at least one software application and a display screen todisplay the virtual representation of the hardware game piece duringexecution thereof, wherein the virtual representation of the hardwaregame piece is usable during game play of the electronic board game inplace of the at least one hardware game piece.

Example 56 includes the subject matter of Example 55, and furtherincluding a server separate from the user computing device and from theelectronic device and comprising at least one of (a) a virtual gamepiece applications library to store a plurality of different virtualgame piece applications, the processor to acquire the virtual game pieceapplication, in the form of the at least one software application, fromthe virtual game piece applications library of the server, and (b) aprivate game component sub-module to store one or more softwareapplications associated with electronic board games for hiding certaininformation related to play by one player of an electronic board gamefrom one or more other players of that electronic board game, theprocessor to acquire the software application to hide certaininformation relating to play of the electronic board game from otherplayers of the electronic board game from the server.

Example 57 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 55 and 56, andwherein the server comprises a first communication circuit to conductcommunications via a network, and wherein the electronic devicecomprises a second communication circuit to conduct communications viathe network, and wherein the processor to at least one of (a) acquirethe virtual game piece application from the server by downloading thevirtual game piece application, in the form of the at least one softwareapplication, from the virtual game piece applications library via thenetwork, and (b) acquire the software application to hide certaininformation relating to play of the electronic board game from otherplayers of the electronic board game from the server by downloading thesoftware application from the private game component sub-module via thenetwork.

Example 58 includes a method for playing an electronic board game with asystem including an electronic device having a first processor and afirst display screen and a user computing device separate from theelectronic device, the user computing device having a second processorand a second display screen, the electronic board having at least oneassociated hardware game piece to be used during play thereof, themethod comprising executing the electronic board game with the secondprocessor, controlling the second display screen with the secondprocessor during execution of the electronic board game to displaythereon a graphical representation of the electronic board game,executing with the first processor (a) at least one software applicationof a virtual representation of the at least one hardware game piece,and/or (b) at least one software application to hide with the electronicdevice certain information relating to play by one player of theelectronic board game from other players of the electronic board game,and controlling the first display screen with the first processor duringexecution of the at least one software application to display (a) thevirtual representation of the hardware game piece, and/or (b) thecertain information only to the one player during play of the electronicboard game, wherein the virtual representation of the hardware gamepiece is usable during game play of the electronic board game in placeof the at least one associated hardware game piece.

Example 59 includes the subject matter of Example 58, and wherein thesystem further includes a server separate from the user computing deviceand from the electronic device and comprising at least one of (a) avirtual game piece applications library to store a plurality ofdifferent virtual game piece applications, and (b) a private gamecomponent sub-module to store one or more software applicationsassociated with electronic board games for hiding certain informationrelated to play by one player of an electronic board game from one ormore other players of that electronic board game, and wherein the methodfurther comprises acquiring from the server at least one of (a) thevirtual game piece application, in the form of the at least one softwareapplication, from the virtual game piece applications library, and (b)the at least one software application to hide the certain informationwith the electronic device, and storing in the memory of the electronicdevice (a) the at least one software application of the virtual gamepiece application and/or (b) the software application to hide thecertain information with the electronic device.

Example 60 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 58 and 60, andwherein the server comprises a first communication circuit to conductcommunications via a network, and wherein the electronic devicecomprises a second communication circuit to conduct communications viathe network, and wherein the method further comprises (a) acquiring thevirtual game piece application from the server by downloading thevirtual game piece application, in the form of the at least one softwareapplication, from the virtual game piece applications library via thenetwork, and/or (b) acquiring from the server the at least one softwareapplication to hide the certain information with the electronic deviceby downloading from the private game component sub-module via thenetwork the software application to hide the certain information withthe electronic device.

Example 61 includes one or more computer readable media includinginstructions for playing an electronic board game having at least oneassociated hardware game piece to be used during play thereof, whereinexecution of the instructions by one or more processors causes the oneor more processors to execute the electronic board game, control adisplay screen of a user computing device during execution of theelectronic board game to display thereon a graphical representation ofthe electronic board game, execute (a) at least one software applicationof a virtual representation of the at least one hardware game pieceand/or (b) at least one software application to hide with an electronicdevice, separate from the user computing device, certain informationrelating to play by one player of the electronic board game from otherplayers of the electronic board game and control a display screen of anelectronic device separate from the user computing device (a) duringexecution of the at least one software application to display thereonthe virtual representation of the hardware game piece, wherein thevirtual representation of the hardware game piece is usable during gameplay of the electronic board game in place of the at least oneassociated hardware game piece, and/or (b) during execution of the atleast one software application to display the certain information onlyto the one player during play of the electronic board game.

Example 62 includes the subject matter of Example 61, and whereinexecution of the instructions causes the one or more processors to (a)acquire the virtual game piece application, in the form of the at leastone software application, from a virtual game piece applications libraryof a server that is separate from the user computing device and from theelectronic device, and/or (b) to acquire from a private game componentsub-module of a server that is separate from the user computing deviceand from the electronic device the at least one software application todisplay the certain information only to the one player during play ofthe electronic board game.

Example 63 includes the one or more computer readable media of claim 126wherein execution of the instructions causes the one or more processorsto (a) acquire the virtual game application from the server bydownloading the virtual game piece application, in the form of the atleast one software application, from the virtual game piece applicationslibrary via a network, and (b) acquire the at least one softwareapplication to display the certain information only to the one playerduring play of the electronic board game by downloading from the virtualprivate game component sub-module via a network the at least onesoftware application to display the certain information only to the oneplayer during play of the electronic board game, and to store in thememory of the electronic device (a) the at least one softwareapplication of the virtual game piece application and/or (b) thesoftware application to display the certain information only to the oneplayer during play of the electronic board game.

Example 64 includes a computing device comprising a processor; and amemory having stored therein a plurality of instructions that, inresponse to being executed by the processor, results in the processorperforming the method of any of Examples 17-26, 41-44, 51-52 and 58-60.

Example 65 includes one or more machine readable media comprising aplurality of instructions stored thereon that in response to beingexecuted result in a computing device performing any of Examples 17-26,41-44, 51-52, and 58-60.

While the concepts of the present disclosure have been illustrated anddescribed in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such anillustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and notrestrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrativeembodiments have been shown and described and that all changes andmodifications consistent with the disclosure and recited claims aredesired to be protected.

1. A user computing device to execute electronic board games, the usercomputing device comprising: a display screen orientable upwardly tosupport thereon at least one hardware game piece associated with atleast one electronic board game, a memory to store the at least oneelectronic board game, and a processor to execute the electronic boardgame and to control the display screen to display an electronic versionof a board surface of the electronic board game.
 2. The user computingdevice of claim 1, wherein the display screen comprises a touch screenand the at least one hardware game piece comprises a plurality ofdifferent hardware game pieces, wherein each different hardware gamepiece defines a unique footprint, and wherein the processor is toassociate each of the plurality of different hardware game pieces with adifferent one of a corresponding plurality of players of the at leastone electronic board game.
 3. The user computing device of claim 2,wherein to associate each of the plurality of different hardware gamepieces with a different one of a corresponding plurality of playerscomprises to (i) sense, via the touch screen, the unique footprint ofeach of the plurality of hardware game pieces and (ii) assign eachsensed, unique footprint to a different one of the plurality of players.4. The user computing device of claim 2, wherein the processor is totrack a position of each of the plurality of players relative to theelectronic version of the board surface of the electronic board game. 5.The user computing device of claim 4, wherein to track a position ofeach of the plurality of players comprises to (i) sense, via the touchscreen, the unique footprints of each of the plurality of hardware gamepieces and (ii) associate each of the sensed, unique footprints with theone of the plurality of players assigned thereto.
 6. The user computingdevice of claim 1, wherein the at least one hardware game piececomprises a plurality of different hardware game pieces, wherein eachdifferent hardware game piece comprises a different communication deviceto produce a unique identification signal, and wherein the processor isto associate each of the plurality of different hardware game pieceswith a different one of a corresponding plurality of players of the atleast one electronic board game, wherein to associate each of theplurality of different hardware game pieces with a different one of acorresponding plurality of players comprises to (i) sense a uniqueidentification signal produced by each of the different communicationdevices and (ii) assign each sensed, unique identification signal to adifferent one of the plurality of players.
 7. One or more computerreadable media containing instructions for managing and executingacquired electronic board games, wherein execution of the instructionsby one or more processors of a computing device having a display screencauses the one or more processors to: store at least one acquiredelectronic board game in a memory, execute the electronic board game,and control the display screen during execution of the electronic boardgame to display thereon an electronic version of a board surface of theelectronic board game, wherein orienting the display screen upwardlyprovides a support surface for supporting at least one hardware gamepiece associated with the at least one electronic board game.
 8. The oneor more computer readable media of claim 7, wherein the display screencomprises a touch screen and the at least one hardware game piececomprises a plurality of different hardware game pieces, wherein eachdifferent hardware game piece defines a unique footprint, and whereinexecution of the instructions causes the one or more processors toassociate each of the plurality of different hardware game pieces with adifferent one of a corresponding plurality of players of the at leastone electronic board game.
 9. The one or more computer readable media ofclaim 8, wherein to associate each of the plurality of differenthardware game pieces with a different one of a corresponding pluralityof players comprises to (i) sense, via the touch screen, the uniquefootprint of each of the plurality of hardware game pieces and (ii)assign each sensed, unique footprint to a different one of the pluralityof players.
 10. The one or more computer readable media of claim 8,wherein execution of the instructions causes the one or more processorsto track a position of each of the plurality of players relative to theelectronic version of the board surface of the electronic board game.